Irene Brand - Child of Her Heart

Cover Page

Excerpt When she finally turned off the light, Sonya wished for the comfort of someone to talk to… But without a telephone, she was unable to call anyone. No, she was on her own now—either to succeed or to fail. But I’m not on my own, and the thought brought her upright in bed. She turned on the light and rushed over to the luggage piled in the corner where she found the white Bible. “God,” she whispered, “I feel awful neglecting You all these years, and then turning to You when I’m in trouble. But truly, God, I have no place else to turn. Was it necessary for me to be brought this low so that I’d realize how I was straying from my childhood faith? If so, help me now. Direct me to some words that will give me peace of mind and help me through this night and the difficult days ahead.” Sonya had no doubt that God heard her prayer, and she opened the Bible to the book of Psalms and read aloud, “’When I said my foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.’”

About the Author IRENE BRAND This prolific and popular author of both contemporary and historical inspirational fiction is a native of West Virginia, where she has lived all of her life. She began writing professionally in 1977, after completing a master’s degree in history at Marshall University. Irene taught in secondary public schools for twenty-three years, but retired in 1989 to devote herself full-time to her writing. After a long career of publishing magazine articles and devotional materials, in 1984 her first novel was published by Thomas Nelson. Since that time, Irene has published fourteen contemporary and historical novels and three nonfiction titles with publishers such as Zondervan, Fleming Revell and Barbour Books. Extensive travels with her husband, Rod, to forty-nine of the United States and twenty-four foreign countries have inspired much of her writing. Through her writing, Irene believes she has been helpful to others and is grateful to the many readers who have written to say that her truly inspiring stories and compelling portrayals of characters of strong faith have made a positive impression on their lives.

Title Page Child of Her Heart Irene Brand www.millsandboon.co.uk

Epigraph And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are the called, according to His purpose. — Romans 8:28 (KJV)

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Copyright

But without a telephone, she was unable to call anyone. No, she was on her own now—either to succeed or to fail. But I’m not on my own, and the thought brought her upright in bed. She turned on the light and rushed over to the luggage piled in the corner where she found the white Bible.

“God,” she whispered, “I feel awful neglecting You all these years, and then turning to You when I’m in trouble. But truly, God, I have no place else to turn. Was it necessary for me to be brought this low so that I’d realize how I was straying from my childhood faith? If so, help me now. Direct me to some words that will give me peace of mind and help me through this night and the difficult days ahead.”

Sonya had no doubt that God heard her prayer, and she opened the Bible to the book of Psalms and read aloud, “’When I said my foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.’”

This prolific and popular author of both contemporary and historical inspirational fiction is a native of West Virginia, where she has lived all of her life. She began writing professionally in 1977, after completing a master’s degree in history at Marshall University. Irene taught in secondary public schools for twenty-three years, but retired in 1989 to devote herself full-time to her writing.

After a long career of publishing magazine articles and devotional materials, in 1984 her first novel was published by Thomas Nelson. Since that time, Irene has published fourteen contemporary and historical novels and three nonfiction titles with publishers such as Zondervan, Fleming Revell and Barbour Books.

Extensive travels with her husband, Rod, to forty-nine of the United States and twenty-four foreign countries have inspired much of her writing. Through her writing, Irene believes she has been helpful to others and is grateful to the many readers who have written to say that her truly inspiring stories and compelling portrayals of characters of strong faith have made a positive impression on their lives.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are the called, according to His purpose.

— Romans 8:28 (KJV)

If you get burned, you’ll have to suffer alone with the blister!

The thought flashed unbidden into Sonya Dixon’s mind as she paced the floor of her third-story apartment. With her marriage crumbling around her, why would she remember a remark her father had made over two years ago? She had paid scant attention to what he had said then, and she hadn’t thought of the words since, for she had loved Bryon so much it hadn’t occurred to her that the future could hold any problems.

Sonya paused at the double windows, pulled the heavy draperies and watched as darkness settled over Omaha. She opened one of the windows and shivered at the hint of frost in the air. In the distance she heard a school band playing at a football game. Seemed like only yesterday she had changed the clocks to daylight saving time, looking forward to a long summer of fun, but the wonderful season had ended in a nightmare of misery and frustration.

You might as well stop dawdling and deal with that letter, Sonya’s conscience prodded, but she stared out the window until the streetlights came on and the scent of exhaust fumes stung her nostrils. The room behind her was unlit, but when she turned, the white envelope lying on the floor made a little island in the darkness.

She picked up the letter, flipped on a light, kicked off her shoes and flopped down on the couch.

“It’s only a joke, so why should I let it upset me?” she muttered. She crushed the letter in her hand, refusing to read it again. When the telephone rang, Sonya threw the wadded paper across the room and, with a smile, lifted the receiver.

“Okay, Bryon, it was a good joke, but I didn’t appreciate it much,” she said immediately.

“Sonya?” The voice on the line wasn’t Bryon’s. “Oh, Mother.” Sonya’s smile faded and disappointment drenched her spirit.

“What was that all about?” Marilyn Sizemore asked. “What joke has Bryon played on you?”

“Only a little argument between us, Mother. I’ll tell you about it sometime. What’s new with you?”

“What’s new with us?” she gasped. “You write and tell us we’re going to become grandparents again, and then ask, ‘What’s new?’ What could be greater news than that? Are you feeling all right?”

“Sure, I’m great. I’ve been to a doctor, and he’s says I’m right on schedule. So don’t worry about me.”

“How’s Bryon? Is he excited?”

“He’s a little slow to catch on to the idea,” Sonya said dryly. “How are Dad and the rest of the family?”